Sunday, September 5 2010

TWO FIFA Vice Presidents and several members of the Executive Committee are expected to attend the Opening Ceremony today of the U-17 Women’s World Cup at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

The high profile delegation includes Vice President Dr MJ Chung, Vice President Reynald Temarii, Executive Committee Member Ricardo Terra Teixeira, Executive committee Member and Deputy Chairman of the Organising Committee Dr Adamus Adamu and General Secretary Jerome Valcke.

Dr Chung and Dr Adamu both arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on September 2 while the rest of the delegation were expected to arrive on Friday. FIFA President Sepp Blatter will also attending the U-17 World Cup and is expected to arrive on September 20.

This is the second FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to be staged by FIFA.

The exciting and promising event is still in its infancy stage, but despite this fact organisers hope to assemble the brightest stars in the women’s game. The inaugural tournament was staged in New Zealand two years ago and proved to be a resounding success, attracting a total attendance of 207,803.

At the end of a competition dominated by Asian teams, and in which the representatives of South and Central America failed to win a single match, it was Korea DPR who were crowned maiden champions after beating USA in the final.

A total of 16 teams will be competing on local shores for the tournament which is scheduled to kick-off at 3 pm today. Seven teams will be making their competition debut in Trinidad and Tobago: Chile, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Mexico, South Africa, Venezuela and the host nation.

And while the holders will be back to defend their title, the runners-up from two years ago failed to qualify from the CONCACAF Zone, a huge surprise given the strength of the women’s game in the USA.